5th Annual Alberta Communications Forum

About the Forum

March 5 + 6, 2018

We are a dynamic marketing and communications firm with a myriad of experience and skills which combine to provide clients unparalleled service. Communication is at the root of who we are as a species; it is what sets us apart from all other creatures in this world and is the force that carries us from moment to moment.

Our goal is to offer a conference experience that will educate, inspire and enable professional communicators from various industries through an environment of professional networking to benefit both delegates and speakers alike.

We are excited to have you join us and hope you return year after year. Please call 1.855.688.0189 or email us at info@swanseacommunications.com. You can also find out more about us at www.swanseacommunications.com.

Since 2014 SummersDirect and Swansea Communications have joined forces to present the Alberta Communications Forum. Through SummersDirect’s past experience in creating relevant and engaging conferences and Swansea Communications’ current involvement in the communications field you’re sure to love the end product; an event with quality speakers, tools and techniques you can take away and use, case studies you can relate to and most of all VALUE.

Together we want to build a long-lasting relationship with you!

Sponsors

Because professional and fun can go together.

IABC Edmonton is a professional association that prefers to do without the stuffiness that sometimes accompanies business events. Our more than 450 members range from students to seasoned professionals. As members of IABC Edmonton, they’re part of a strong and growing community that understands their passion for communication. We get together to stoke that passion with fun opportunities for professional growth, inspiration, and enrichment.

IABC Edmonton is the local chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators, which connects more than 15,000 of us (in more than 80 countries) in a vibrant network.

2018 ALBERTA COMMUNICATIONS FORUM + Workshops • March 5 & 6, 2018

MARCH 5: FORUM Program

8:00 AM: Registration

8:30 AM: Welcome & Opening Remarks from the Chair

This session will explore how communications professionals can successfully tackle the transformative topic of Diversity & Inclusion in the workplace. By taking participants through the good, the bad and the ugly of a Gold Quill award winning Diversity and Inclusion communications campaign participants will learn what it takes to get buy-in at all levels, how to position themselves as trusted strategic advisors, why collaboration is your friend, how to measure D&I communications, how to use storytelling to get results, and what cultural and ethical potholes to avoid when developing D&I visuals.

As Diversity and Inclusion becomes an increasingly relevant topic to drive innovation, healthy bottom lines and a sense of belonging, it will be increasingly imperative that communications professionals understand how to communicate in ways that move employees from awareness to action. Bring your questions and challenges and let’s work out a path forward.

Rachel Wade
Communications Manager, ATB Financial

9:45 AM : Networking & Refreshment Break

10:00 AM : Authentic Business Storytelling

Trust is harder than ever to earn. According to the 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer report, we are facing a global trust crisis. Faith in business, governments, media and NGO’s is at an all-time low. Savvy communicators are responding to the changing climate with some new strategies.

Find out how Covenant Health – Canada’s largest Catholic health organization and a World’s Most Ethical Company – is sharing stories and building trust.

Dive into the case study of Lasting Impressions, Covenant Health’s new annual report to the community with the project lead and principal consultant. Find out why and how they shared first-person stories that were directly quoted from recorded interviews with patients, clients and employees. Leave the session with a step-by-step guide to the new ‘reverse key message’ storytelling model they created that you can use for your own trust-building communication strategies.

Karen Diaper, Senior Communications Advisor, Covenant Health

Celine Richter
Principal, Celine Richter Communications

The Calgary Zoo’s vision to be, Canada’s leader in wildlife conservation, and mission, to take and inspire action to sustain wildlife and wild places, is at the heart of everything they do. In 2018, with the return of giant pandas to the zoo, the Marketing and Communications teams must work closely to effectively communicate this message while continuing to drive visitation and membership. Come learn how these teams’ will leverage past learnings to approach this opportunity. www.calgaryzoo.com

Larissa Mark
Manager, Communications, Calgary Zoo

Adrienne Buhr
Supervisor, Marketing, Calgary Zoo

12:00 PM : Networking Lunch + BONUS: LUNCHEON ADDRESS: Work Life Balance is BS, Here’s How To Create A Delicious Life

Michelle uses a delicious analogy to give you a new perspective on life. Her goal is to leave you with a different approach to your busy schedule and strategies and for taking action that will allow you to live the life you envision.

Michelle Carre
Curator of WHY

1:30 PM : People First: The Changing Face of Modern Marketing

Drawing from behavioural science and real-world experience, Geoff Grimble from DDB Canada, shares how communicators can succeed in this business (not) as usual world.

Geoff Grimble
Account Director, DDB Canada

2:30 PM : How to prepare your organization for the legalization of cannabis from the communications perspective

The legalization of cannabis will impact municipalities with internal changes to workplace policy as well as external impacts stemming from changes to zoning, licensing, enforcement and additional considerations of how public consumption will impact festivals and events, as well as parks and playground spaces. Hear how the City of Edmonton is planning its communications strategy to align with provincial and federal programs, as well as the unique needs of Edmontonians.

Charity Dyke
Communications Manager, Sustainable Development - The City of Edmonton

3:30 PM : Networking & Refreshment Break

3:45 PM : Interactive Media Panel: How to get your story heard

In this interactive session, hear from the media themselves tips and techniques to get your story heard. Panel will include members from TV, print, radio and online.

Panel Members Include:

Ted Bauer, Assignment Editor, Global Edmonton – Ted is a journalist with more than 20 years experience in Canada and the U.S, finding and telling the stories you need to know. He has a keen interest in civic, provincial and Indigenous affairs.

Marty Klinkenberg, Reporter, The Globe & Mail – Marty is a longtime newspaper journalist who has worked in newsrooms big and small throughout North America in numerous capacities. He started at a time when there were still typewriters and glue pots in newsrooms, and is now flourishing in the digital age. Marty has received national awards for long-form writing and enjoy working as a mentor to younger writers when the opportunity arises.

Tim Adams, Director, Edmonton A.M. – CBC Edmonton – Tim manages a team of on air and behind the scenes people to put on 3 hours of live radio every weekday.
He also does a regular column everyday called the T.I.M Report (Things Interesting Me). Tim’s past roles with CBC have had him covering City Hall, and everything from politics, to crime, health and education. He filed reports for both TV and radio.

5:00 PM : Closing Remarks

MARCH 6: Workshops

2018 ALBERTA COMMUNICATIONS FORUM + Workshops • March 5 & 6, 2018

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Creating Breakthrough Digital Content

The digital landscape continues to become more complex: marketers are being called upon to leverage a growing list of channels, analyze huge amounts of data, and use the latest in a crowded marketplace of online tools. For today’s brands, it’s not just about being on Facebook or having a blog. It’s about Creating Breakthrough Digital Content. In this half-day workshop, learn how to develop, amplify and evaluate content that will deliver real business results.

Brittany & Tessa
DDB Canada

Brittany Dakins – Former Community Manager from Boston Pizza, now a Digital Strategist with DDB Canada and leads our group on the social content side, working with a wide variety of clients including the Art Gallery of Alberta, Syncrude and Champion Petfoods.

Tessa Vriend, an Account Executive with DDB Canada, who works on digital/content programs for the City of Edmonton, Government of Alberta, Interior Savings Credit Union and Joint Utilities Safety Team. She previously worked on the western Canadian marketing for Subway restaurants.

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Corporate Writing that Sticks

Corporate speak must die, but where do you stand on plain language editing?

Corporate writing doesn’t have to be boring to be readable. If you are striving to improve your articles, reports, blogs and web content, this workshop is for you. Learn some new tools, free apps, and best practices that will dramatically improve the odds that your writing will get read, understood, and make an impact.

This is a hands-on workshop aimed at junior to intermediate communicators, and is limited to 40 participants. Bring your lap-top and a sample piece of writing you want to polish up.

Bonus: The first 15 participants who sign up for this workshop can send in a sample piece of writing in advance, and get personalized feedback on their style, tone, readability and more.

Celine Richter, CMP
Principal, Celine Richter Communications

Celine is the Catalyst at Celine Richter Communications and an IABC-certified communications management professional. Celine has over 20 years of experience helping large organizations and entrepreneurs adapt to the changing communication climate. Celine previously held leadership positions at the HQCA, AMA, and Covenant Health and has an Honours BA in Communication from the University of Ottawa.

Non Member Rates

Package

Early Bird

Regular

Communications Forum Only

$549

$649

Communications Forum & 2 Workshops

$949

$1099

Communications Forum & 1 Workshop

$899

$999

1 Workshop Only

$349

$499

2 Workshops Only

$449

$599

IABC/CPRS Member Rates

Package

Early Bird

Regular

IABC/CPRS Member Forum Only

$499

$599

IABC/CPRS Member Forum & 2 Workshops

$899

$999

IABC/CPRS Member Forum & 1 Workshop

$749

$899

IABC/CPRS Member 1 Workshop Only

$299

$399

IABC/CPRS Member 2 Workshops Only

$399

$499

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Substitution of delegates is permissible without prior notification. Refunds will be given for cancellations received in writing no later than 10 days prior to the conference date subject to an administration fee of $200 plus $10 for GST. After this time, you are liable for the full registration fee even if you do not attend the conference. If you register during this 10 day period, you are also liable for the full fee. Swansea Communications reserves the right to change program date, meeting place or content without further notice and assumes no liability for these changes.